Written Answers Thursday 4 August 2005

Scottish Executive

Apprenticeships

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprenticeships there have been in (a) manufacturing and (b) service industries in each year since 1999 in (a) the Scottish Borders and (b) East Lothian.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does not hold information on the number of MAs broken down by sector and geographical area centrally. This detail is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

  Data on the number of people studying MAs in Scotland since 1999 is given in answer to question S2W-17784, answered on 4 August 2005 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Apprenticeships

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprenticeships there have been in (a) manufacturing and (b) service industries in each year since 1999.

Allan Wilson: While a breakdown by industrial sector is not held centrally by the Executive we do hold total numbers of modern apprenticeships (MAs) for Scotland for each year since 1999. The figures relate to the first quarter in each year and are given in the table below.

  

 Year
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005


 Number of MAs
 11,568
 14,002
 15,767
 23,399
 27,768
 31,392
 33,683



  The specific number of MAs broken down by sector is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Education

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for students taking courses in nautical studies in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: Students taking Further Education (FE) courses in nautical studies in Scotland may apply for the standard range of bursaries, allowances and fee waivers generally applicable to FE studies, subject to meeting residence requirements and any other applicable eligibility criteria.

  Similarly, students on nautical studies courses at Higher Education (HE) level are entitled to the standard HE student support package available through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), again subject to meeting residence requirements and any other applicable eligibility criteria. However, many HE students will take a Higher National Diploma (HND) course in conjunction with a Certificate of Competence course approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). It is normally a requirement of admission to MCA Certificate courses that the student is either sponsored or employed by a shipping company or training agency while undertaking the course. Students’ employment or sponsorship could affect their eligibility for SAAS support, depending on the level or specific conditions of sponsorship. In addition, HND courses in most subjects normally last for two years but, where the student is also working towards an MCA Certificate at the same time, HND courses in nautical studies may take longer to complete. In such cases, SAAS may still provide student support, but only for the minimum period that would usually be required to complete the SAAS-funded course.

Education

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms exist for articulation from further education colleges to degree level courses for cadets in the merchant navy in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: In line with Scottish Executive policy, colleges and universities are committed to encouraging learners to reach their full potential. An important factor in the delivery of that commitment are the arrangements between many colleges and universities which are designed to facilitate the progression of students to degree level courses and beyond. The Scottish Executive does not, however, maintain a central register of these arrangements, details of which are best obtained direct from the institution concerned.

Employment

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) total number of jobs and (b) employment growth rates have been in the (i) energy, (ii) water, (iii) manufacturing, (iv) construction, (v) distribution, (vi) hotel, (vii) restaurant, (viii) transport, (ix) communications, (x) banking, (xi) finance, (xii) insurance, (xiii) public administration, (xiv) education and (xv) health sector in each local authority area in each year since 1995.

Allan Wilson: The information requested is given in the tables of Employee Jobs by Industry and Local Authority Area, 1995-2003 , a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37140).

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in appointing a chief executive and board of advisers for the Co-operative Development Agency; what the terms and conditions of the chief executive will be; whether the board of advisers will be paid; what relationship the agency will have with (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (c) the Scottish Executive; what its annual budget will be; what targets it is being set; where will it be headquartered, and when will it be fully operational.

Allan Wilson: Scottish Enterprise (SEn) has the operational responsibility for the establishment of the Co-operative Development Agency (CDA) since the new body will be set up as a subsidiary of SEn. It is anticipated that the CDA will governed by a Development Plan and an Operating Contract agreed with SEn. Operational targets will be set as part of that process. As the CDA will operate Scotland wide, Highlands & Islands Enterprise are directly involved in the implementation and operational arrangements.

  Scottish Executive will maintain an interest in the development and establishment of the CDA as part of SEn. SEn has been allocated a budget of up to £3 million for the work of the CDA over its first three years. The financial provision will be transferred to SEn as part of its grant-in-aid in due course.

  The posts of Chief Executive Officer, Chair of the Advisory Board and Board Members are to be advertised by SEn in August. The terms and conditions of the Chief Executive will be decided by Scottish Enterprise, in line with SEn’s current Human Resources policy. Board members will not be remunerated, although an allowance will be available to cover relevant expenses for attending meetings.

  The location of the new body will be subject to the considerations of the Executive’s relocation policy and there will be a presumption against an Edinburgh location. SEn’s current aim is for the CDA to be operational by January 2006.

Further Education

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what courses in nautical studies are available from further education colleges or universities and at which institutions they are available.

Allan Wilson: Scotland’s leading institution in nautical studies is Glasgow College of Nautical Studies, which has an international reputation as a centre of excellence. Banff and Buchan College is also very highly regarded in the delivery of courses for seafarers. Courses which involve aspects of nautical studies, or which have some nautical or maritime dimension, are however available at a wide range of institutions in Scotland.

  Details of courses offered by individual institutions can be obtained via the websites of the Association of Scottish Colleges http://www.ascol.org.uk/contacts.asp and of Universities Scotland http://www.universities-scotland.ac.uk.

Gaelic

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 will be published in Gaelic.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive ensured that at every stage of the parliamentary process the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill and supporting documents were available in Gaelic and English. The Act has also been translated into Gaelic and, before publication, the Scottish Executive, working with Bòrd na Gàidhlig, would like to check the Gaelic legal terminology and ensure that the standard of language is appropriate for this historic document. The Act will be published in Gaelic as soon as possible in the Autumn.

  The Executive has provided the following Gaelic translation:

  Rinn Riaghaltas na h-Alba cinnteach gun robh Bile na Gàidhlig (Alba) is na pàipearan-taice aige ri fhaotainn anns a’ Ghàidhlig is a’ Bheurla aig gach ìre den phròiseas phàrlamaideach. Tha an Achd air a bhith ga h-eadar-theangachadh gu Gàidhlig cuideachd, agus, mus tèid a foillseachadh, bu toil le Riaghaltas na h-Alba, ag obair cuide ri Bòrd na Gàidhlig, sùil a thoirt air a’ bhriathrachas laghail Ghàidhlig agus a dhèanamh cinnteach gu bheil ìre a’ chànain iomchaidh airson na sgrìobhainn eachdraidheil seo. Thèid an Achd fhoillseachadh anns a’ Ghàidhlig cho luath agus a ghabhas anns an Fhoghar.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of (a) gonorrhoea, (b) syphilis, (c) chlamydia and (d) thrush have been diagnosed in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is shown in the following tables. Table 1 shows information on number of cases of gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia based on laboratory reports by NHS board of testing in the last five years. Table 2 shows estimated number of contacts and incidence contacts for Candidal Vulvovagitis and other Urogenital Candiasis (thrush), based on Practice Team Information (PTI). This information is based on a sample of General Practitioners which is not of sufficient size to allow for a breakdown by NHS board.

  Table 1

  Laboratory Reports of Selected Sexually Transmitted Infections by NHS Board1, 2000-2004.

  Genital chlamydia

  

 NHS Board
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004


 Argyll and Clyde
 375
 522
 832
 1,011
 1,134


 Ayrshire and Arran
 275
 356
 813
 888
 887


 Borders
 51
 51
 48
 189
 259


 Dumfries and Galloway
 282
 328
 408
 386
 502


 Fife
 512
 524
 858
 1,002
 1,199


 Forth Valley
 354
 442
 373
 595
 608


 Grampian
 1,160
 1,235
 1,348
 1,427
 1,800


 Greater Glasgow
 1,689
 2,406
 2,295
 3,102
 3,487


 Highland
 500
 531
 626
 630
 788


 Lanarkshire
 400
 728
 890
 885
 982


 Lothian
 1,206
 2,432
 2,742
 2,971
 3,016


 Orkney
 10
 41
 45
 55
 51


 Shetland
 8
 24
 33
 41
 50


 Tayside
 822
 953
 1,069
 1,189
 1,281


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 3
 9
 25


 Unspecified
 0
 56
 0
 0
 0


 Scotland
 7,644
 10,629
 12,383
 14,380
 16,069



  Gonorrhoea

  

 NHS Board
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004


 Argyll and Clyde
 36
 39
 47
 24
 41


 Ayrshire and Arran
 10
 21
 31
 16
 10


 Borders
 0
 0
 7
 1
 5


 Dumfries and Galloway
 40
 21
 13
 26
 27


 Fife
 35
 28
 9
 33
 27


 Forth Valley
 41
 33
 18
 31
 30


 Grampian
 92
 82
 74
 78
 69


 Greater Glasgow
 266
 264
 239
 247
 309


 Highland
 33
 43
 33
 13
 36


 Lanarkshire
 45
 46
 31
 31
 27


 Lothian
 194
 184
 254
 282
 220


 Orkney
 1
 0
 0
 2
 0


 Shetland
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Tayside
 51
 55
 64
 35
 44


 Western Isles
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Unspecified
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Scotland
 844
 816
 820
 820
 845



  Infectious Syphilis

  

 NHS Board
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004


 Argyll and Clyde
 n/a
 1
 3
 3
 1


 Ayrshire and Arran
 n/a
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Borders
 n/a
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 n/a
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Fife
 n/a
 3
 1
 0
 0


 Forth Valley
 n/a
 1
 0
 0
 2


 Grampian
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a
 6
 8


 Greater Glasgow
 n/a
 8
 24
 39
 78


 Highland
 n/a
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Lanarkshire
 n/a
 0
 0
 4
 7


 Lothian
 n/a
 n/a
 14
 15
 84


 Orkney
 n/a
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Shetland
 n/a
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Tayside
 n/a
 0
 0
 3
 6


 Western Isles
 n/a
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Unspecified
 n/a
 0
 0
 2
 0


 Scotland
 
 13
 43
 72
 186



  Notes:

  1. NHS Board refers to the board in which the patient was sampled for testing, rather than the NHS board of residence.

  Source: Health Protection Scotland – July 2005

  Table 2

  Candidal Vulvovagitis and Other Urogenital Candidiasis

  Estimated Contacts1, incidence and rates per 1000 population for Scotland2,3; years ending March 2000-2004

  

 
 Gender
 Year Ending
 Estimated contacts for Scotland4
 Contact rate per 1000 population
 Estimated number of incidence contacts for Scotland4
 Incidence rate per 1000 population


 GP Only1
 Male
 March 2000
 5,150
 1.90
 4,850
 1.79


 
 
 March 2001
 4,500
 1.66
 3,950
 1.47


 
 
 March 2002
 4,900
 1.80
 4,300
 1.59


 
 
 March 2003
 5,000
 1.89
 4,500
 1.71


 
 
 March 2004
 4,150
 1.57
 3,800
 1.45


 
 Female
 March 2000
 32,150
 11.44
 28,450
 10.13


 
 
 March 2001
 26,050
 9.30
 23,550
 8.42


 
 
 March 2002
 23,800
 8.51
 21,450
 7.66


 
 
 March 2003
 21,550
 7.96
 19,350
 7.15


 
 
 March 2004
 19,300
 7.15
 17,550
 6.51


 Full PTI1
 Male
 March 2004
 4,250
 1.62
 3,900
 1.49


 
 Female
 March 2004
 20,450
 7.58
 18,350
 6.81



  Source: Practice Team Information (PTI).

  Ref: IR2005-01972.

  Notes: Read codes used to define this condition are AB21., AB22. and all read codes under these.

  1. Prior to April 2003 data were collected only from GPs (Continuous Morbidity Recording (CMR)). From 1 April 2003 Data collection was extended to encompass patient contacts with practice nurses, district nurses and health visitors (Practice Team Information (PTI).

  2. Based on 52, 60, 67, 64 and 45 practices which collected and submitted GP-only data, years ending 2000 to 2004 respectively.

  3. Based on 45 practices which collected and submitted PTI data (which includes information from GPs, practice nurses, district nurses and health visitors) for year ending March 2004.

  4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 50.

Health

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a policy on choice of place of care for terminally ill patients and, if so, what that policy is.

Mr Andy Kerr: Our aims is that NHS boards should meet the wishes of patients and their families, as far as is practicable. We support the development of specialist palliative care, including at home, where appropriate. Substantial resources have been invested in palliative care by NHS boards and through the Cancer in Scotland strategy.

Health

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what achievements there have been in the provision of health care for stroke victims since the Managed Clinical Network for Stroke was set up.

Mr Andy Kerr: We have achieved much in the provision of health care for stroke patients since the publication of the CHD and Stroke Strategy in 2002. Fifteen separate Managed Clinical Networks (MCNs), for Stroke have been established – one in each NHS Board area. Over the past three years the Scottish Executive has allocated an additional £40 million for CHD and stroke projects in Scotland, delivered through MCNs. Examples of stroke projects include:

  Providing or enhancing acute stroke units;

  Improving access to CT imaging services;

  Establishing neurovascular clinics;

  Recruiting over 60 new specialist nursing, AHP and medical staff;

  Setting up a Stroke Audit to enable the storage and use of reliable data on Scottish stroke patients

  Since 1995 there has been a 34% drop in mortality from stroke, and the survival rate of patients 30 days after suffering a stroke has increased by 14% in the same period. The capacity of MCNs to bring together staff from many different sectors (medical, nursing, therapeutic) to work in a co-ordinated way for the benefit of patients has contributed significantly to these improvements.

  More detail on improvement in stroke services can be found in the CHD/Stroke Strategy Update at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/30859/0012660.pdf.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that patients suffering from terminal illnesses are able to die at home if they choose to.

Mr Andy Kerr: It is our policy to support the development of specialist palliative care, including at home, where appropriate. Substantial resources have been invested in palliative care by NHS boards and through the Cancer in Scotland strategy.

  Enabling people to die at home if that is their wish requires integration of the specialist palliative care and primary healthcare teams. Managed Clinical Networks for palliative care promote that integration.

Hospital Acquired Infection

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of MRSA there were in each hospital in each of the last five years for which statistics are available.

Mr Andy Kerr: A national mandatory healthcare associated infection surveillance system was introduced in 2001 to monitor MRSA bacteraemias (blood infections). The surveillance is operated by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and it produces quarterly reports about the incidence (per thousand bed days) of blood borne MRSA. In the current HPS laboratory reporting system, rates are based on data from reporting laboratories and not for individual hospitals: one laboratory may therefore be reporting information for several hospitals.

  From January 2005 a new system for reporting was introduced in Scotland and this has resulted in more accurate and complete reporting of MRSA bacteraemias. Overall the Scottish picture remains one of stability, with no significant increase in MRSA.

  Data on the above are available at: http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/scieh/infectious/hai/MRSA_Scot.htm

Housing

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were registered on council house waiting lists in each local authority (a) in 1997 and (b) on the last date for which figures are available.

Malcolm Chisholm: The numbers of households on waiting lists for each local authority are published on an annual basis for 2000-01 onwards in the quarterly Scottish Executive Statistical Bulletin (Housing Series)  Housing Trends in Scotland. This is available on-line in the publications section of the housing statistics branch reference site http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/housing/hsbref .

  The most recent figures are for 2003-04 (HSG/2004/4) and the 2004-05 figures will be published at the end of August 2005.

  This data collection began in 2001 and data are not centrally available prior to that date. The numbers reported to the Scottish Executive refer to applicant households and do not specify the number of people within each household.

Housing

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many families were housed in temporary accommodation in each local authority (a) in 1997 and (b) on the last date for which figures are available.

Malcolm Chisholm: Temporary accommodation provided under Section 29 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 is that which is used by local authorities when carrying out their duty to provide accommodation to people who apply as homeless while their applications are being assessed, until a final decision has been made on their application. This duty to provide accommodation continues during the process of review if one is requested. Where the authority’s decision is that it has a duty to provide permanent accommodation, the duty to provide temporary accommodation continues until the duty to provide permanent accommodation is discharged.

  Temporary accommodation may also be provided under section 31 of the 1987 Act, where a household with children is assessed as being intentionally homeless. In these cases temporary accommodation must be provided for a period which gives he household a reasonable opportunity to secure their own accommodation.

  The Scottish Executive collects snapshot summary data on the number of households placed in temporary accommodation by local authorities under the Homeless Persons’ legislation as at the end of each quarter. Data on households with dependent children have only been collected as part of this time series since March 2001 and are available on-line in the publications section of the housing statistics branch reference website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/housing/hsbref.

  The Scottish Executive also collects case-based homelessness data and, as part of this collection, councils are asked to indicate whether the applicant household was placed in temporary accommodation in the course of the application process. Data on housing outcomes, which may consist of temporary accommodation, are also collected. These data are currently available to September 2004, figures up to March 2005 will be published at the end of October 2005. Data shown below are for the most recent calendar year available (2003).

  Table 1 shows the numbers of homelessness applications from households with dependent children reported as having been placed in temporary accommodation in the course of the application process for 1997 and 2003.

  Table 2 shows the numbers of homelessness applications from households with dependent children reported as having been offered and taken up temporary accommodation as a final outcome for 1997 and 2003.

  Table 1: Homelessness Applications from Households with Dependent Children and Use of Temporary Accommodation in the Course of Application: 1997 and 2003

  

 
 1997
 2003


 
Households with children applyingas homeless
 Temporary accommodation used
Households with children applyingas homeless
 Temporary accommodation used


 Scotland
14,500
4,900
14,935
3,502


 Aberdeen City
470
30
306
31


 Aberdeenshire
490
210
449
136


 Angus
420
60
438
37


 Argyll and Bute
220
40
209
81


 Clackmannanshire
230
50
337
43


 Dumfries and Galloway
450
170
416
140


 Dundee City
490
250
422
3


 East Ayrshire
280
120
282
77


 East Dunbartonshire
260
90
228
19


 East Lothian
420
110
310
62


 East Renfrewshire
150
30
123
19


 Edinburgh (City of)
1,520
340
1,107
322


 Eilean Siar
50
20
58
7


 Falkirk
..
..
..
..


 Fife
1,070
340
1,182
314


 Glasgow City
2,540
1,180
2,864
610


 Highland
550
140
558
167


 Inverclyde
140
60
196
29


 Midlothian
140
40
200
5


 Moray
150
20
213
36


 North Ayrshire
350
130
474
144


 North Lanarkshire
710
260
1,017
475


 Orkney
50
30
51
15


 Perth and Kinross
330
50
504
45


 Renfrewshire
340
210
490
170


 Scottish Borders
230
100
257
24


 Shetland
60
40
40
14


 South Ayrshire
250
190
254
90


 South Lanarkshire
810
200
831
159


 Stirling
320
180
219
80


 West Dunbartonshire
400
70
376
78


 West Lothian
430
130
524
70



  Source: HL1 returns from local authorities to Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division (Housing Statistics).

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on applications during the period, and time spent in temporary accommodation may therefore occur outwith the reference period.

  2. Data prior to 2002 have been estimated due to missing returns. Figures for 1997 are rounded to the nearest 100 for Scotland level data, and to the nearest 10 for local authority level data. Therefore the Scotland total may differ slightly from the sum of the local authority estimates.

  3. Due to technical reasons, data on use of temporary accommodation are missing in approximately 0.5% of cases for 2003.

  4. Due to technical reasons, 2003 data for West Lothian are for January-September only. Most recent data for Falkirk have been corrupted and Falkirk is therefore omitted from these analyses.

  5. The following symbols are used in the tables

  - nil

  * less than 0.5%

  .. missing.

  Table 2: Temporary Accommodation for Households with Dependent Children Secured by Local Authority as Final Action: 1997 and 2003

  

 
 1997
 2003


Households with children applyingas homeless
 Accepting offer of temporary accommodation
Households with children applyingas homeless
Accepting offer of temporary accommodation


 Scotland
 14,500
 700
 14,935
 387


 Aberdeen City
 470
 20
 306
 1


 Aberdeenshire
 490
 -
 449
 58


 Angus
 420
 -
 438
 -


 Argyll and Bute
 220
 -
 209
 14


 Clackmannanshire
 230
 -
 337
 2


 Dumfries and Galloway
 450
 -
 416
 19


 Dundee City
 490
 10
 422
 -


 East Ayrshire
 280
 30
 282
 12


 East Dunbartonshire
 260
 -
 228
 -


 East Lothian
 420
 -
 310
 16


 East Renfrewshire
 150
 -
 123
 11


 Edinburgh (City of)
 1,520
 -
 1,107
 4


 Eilean Siar
 50
 -
 58
 1


 Falkirk
 ..
 ..
 ..
 ..


 Fife
 1,070
 10
 1,182
 56


 Glasgow City
 2,540
 90
 2,864
 45


 Highland
 550
 40
 558
 47


 Inverclyde
 140
 -
 196
 2


 Midlothian
 140
 70
 200
 6


 Moray
 150
 -
 213
 1


 North Ayrshire
 350
 -
 474
 2


 North Lanarkshire
 710
 20
 1,017
 15


 Orkney
 50
 -
 51
 9


 Perth & Kinross
 330
 20
 504
 -


 Renfrewshire
 340
 -
 490
 5


 Scottish Borders
 230
 -
 257
 -


 Shetland
 60
 -
 40
 2


 South Ayrshire
 250
 70
 254
 4


 South Lanarkshire
 810
 170
 831
 2


 Stirling
 320
 10
 219
 16


 West Dunbartonshire
 400
 -
 376
 4


 West Lothian
 430
 110
 524
 33



  Source: HL1 returns from local authorities to Scottish Executive Development Department Analytical Services Division (Housing Statistics).

  Notes:

  1. Figures are based on applications during the period, and time spent in temporary accommodation may therefore occur outwith the reference period.

  2. Data prior to 2002 are estimates due to missing returns. Figures for 1997 are rounded to the nearest 100 for Scotland level data, and to the nearest 10 for local authority level data. Therefore the Scotland total may differ slightly from the sum of the local authority estimates.

  3. Data on final action by local authorities are missing in approximately 20% of cases for 1997 and 10% of cases for 2003.

  4. Due to technical reasons, 2003 data for West Lothian are for January-September only. Most recent data for Falkirk have been corrupted and Falkirk is therefore omitted from these analyses.

  5. At present, interim outcomes are not recorded separately on the HL1 return, and it may be that in some cases temporary accommodation has been recorded as a final action when it is in fact an interim solution pending an offer of permanent accommodation.

  6. The following symbols are used in the tables

  - nil

  * less than 0.5%

  .. missing.

Housing

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time was that a homeless household in temporary accommodation had to wait before being made an offer of a permanent home in (a) 1997 and (b) 2004, broken down by local authority area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Accounts Commission collected information for 2002-03 on the total number of households placed in temporary accommodation during the year by local authorities carrying out their duties under the homelessness legislation, and the average length of stay. This information has been used for Key Performance Indicator 6 for housing and is published on the Audit Scotland website at: http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/pi2003/compendium/service/index.htm . Indicator 6 was changed for 2003-04 and data on average length of stay in temporary accommodation are no longer collected centrally.

  The Scottish Executive also publishes data on the number of households in temporary accommodation as at the end of each quarter. The most recent figures are available on-line in the publications section of the housing statistics branch reference site: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/housing/hsbref. This provides a snapshot at a particular point in time, unlike the Accounts Commission performance indicator which represents numbers placed in temporary accommodation over a period of time.

  Temporary accommodation provided under Section 29 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 is that which is used by local authorities when carrying out their duty to provide accommodation to people who apply as homeless while their applications are being assessed, until a final decision has been made on their application. This duty to provide accommodation continues during the process of review if one is requested. Where the authority’s decision is that it has a duty to provide permanent accommodation, the duty to provide temporary accommodation continues until the duty to provide permanent accommodation is discharged.

  Temporary accommodation may also be provided under section 31 of the 1987 Act, where a household with children is assessed as being intentionally homeless. In these cases temporary accommodation must be provided for a period which gives the household a reasonable opportunity to secure their own accommodation.

  Local authorities use different types of housing in order to provide temporary accommodation; such as furnished and unfurnished flats, hostels and B&Bs.

Immigration

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that immigration rules do not impact on the Edinburgh Festival and associated events.

Patricia Ferguson: Immigration is a reserved matter for which the Home Office is responsible. Applications for entry into the United Kingdom are dealt with on a case by case basis under the Immigration Rules.

Local Government Finance

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has pledged to assist the implementation of the Single Status Pay Agreement.

Mr Tom McCabe: Although the Scottish Executive provides financial support for salaries and wages in the grant provided to local authorities, it is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate its financial resources to reflect local needs and priorities. In accordance with current legislation, the responsibility for the terms and conditions of local authority employees also lies with individual local authorities.

  The Single Status Pay Agreement was negotiated and agreed between local authorities and the unions in 1999. The Scottish Executive has no plans to provide further financial assistance for the implementation of the single status agreement but if local authorities have concerns about the financial implications of implementing the agreement then it would be open to COSLA to raise this with the Scottish Executive in the context of the next Spending Review.

Local Government Finance

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has had from interested parties relating to the implementation of the single status agreement.

Mr Tom McCabe: I have received one letter - from The Moray Council - regarding the funding implications of the Single Status Pay Agreement. The issue has also been raised in the course of some discussions that have taken place between councils and the Executive.

Midwifery

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many midwives have been employed in the NHS Borders area and what the breakdown has been between hours attributable to midwives employed by NHS Borders and the hours attributable to agency midwives in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on midwives in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at: www.isdscotland.org/workforce .

  Section E gives details of nursing and midwifery staff employed in NHS Scotland. In particular, tables E1 and E2 show the whole time equivalent (WTE) and headcount number of midwives, broken down by NHS Board area. Latest available figures are at 31 March 2005.

  Table E13 shows the average whole time equivalent (WTE) and actual hours worked for agency midwifery staff, broken down by NHS Board area, by financial year from 2000-2001 to 2004-2005. WTE adjusts headcount staff figures to take account of part-time staff.

  At March 2005, the total number of nurses and midwives employed by NHS Borders was at a record level of 1,446 headcount.

NHS 24

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how and when the scripts and protocols used by NHS 24 have been peer-reviewed prior to use in Scotland and what continuing or periodic reviews take place.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHS 24’s Clinical Decision Support Software algorithms were originally developed by an external supplier, "Clinical Solutions". In advance of launching NHS 24, the algorithms were further developed and extensively peer reviewed by a range of clinicians working within the NHS in Scotland, including primary care doctors, Accident and Emergency consultants, nurses from both primary care and hospital settings, midwives, acute medicine specialists, pharmacists, paediatricians, A&E consultants, mental health specialists and a number of allied health professionals.

  This process ensured that the algorithms were fully suitable to provide sound clinical decision-support within the Scottish health service environment and that they were consistent with clinical guidelines from both NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) and, in Scotland, SIGN (Scottish Inter Collegiate Guidelines Network). The algorithms, therefore, provide an up-to-date clinically-evidenced decision-support tool for the NHS 24 nurses who are experienced clinicians in their own right.

  Since the initial peer review, there has been further review and development of the algorithms in response to feedback from patients, professionals, new clinical guidelines, newly-evidenced best practice and NHS 24 management information, as well as NHS 24’s Core Clinical Group (CCG) which is comprised of multi-disciplinary clinicians, internal and external to NHS 24.

  NHS 24’s Healthcare Governance Committee, which is a statutory committee, meets quarterly to ensure that NHS 24’s services, people, processes and technology operate not just within clinically safe parameters but exceed those parameters in order to provide the best possible patient care.

  The NHS 24 Clinical Forum is an additional review mechanism with membership drawn from both within NHS 24 and from a wide range of clinical peers across the health service to support on-going engagement and direction.

NHS 24

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the call capacity of NHS 24 has been in each year since it was established and what the planned call capacity is in each year until 2010.

Mr Andy Kerr: In 2003, the NHS 24 Blueprint figure was reviewed and the projected call volume set at 2 million as a planning assumption.

  Based on experience and data, NHS 24 revised its Resource Planning Model in February of this year and adjusted the planned call capacity to 1.65 million.

  Due to the level of redesign work and partnership developments currently underway between NHS 24 and a number of other NHS boards, forward capacity planning to 2010 will be progressed once further definition of the new models is achieved. This next review will also factor in the potential impact of the development of the additional satellite centres. This planning work will be taken forward with the various NHS boards involved through their normal five-year planning cycle.

  Due to the call handler recruitment targets within NHS 24 being reached, the service is now in a position to answer all calls offered and, if call volumes were to increase to the previously forecasted levels, access into NHS 24 should be fully available.

  The service continues to strive to achieve its nurse recruitment targets. This and the other measures NHS 24 is taking under its transformation programme are all designed to improve the responsiveness of the service to patients in particular for those who require nurse advice and access to out-of-hours services.

NHS Prescriptions

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which drugs are blacklisted from NHS prescriptions; why each drug was blacklisted, and when each drug was blacklisted.

Mr Andy Kerr: Over 3,300 products are blacklisted and these are now set out in Schedule 1 to the Directions as to the Drugs, Medicines or Other Substances which may, or may not, be Ordered for Patients in the Provision of Primary Medical Services under a General Medical Services Contract. A copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37094).

  Drugs are blacklisted taking into account whether there are other products which meet clinical needs equally effectively or, for certain borderline substances such as foodstuffs and toiletries, whether or not they have demonstrated a therapeutic value.

  The blacklist was established in 1985 and, except for 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2005 thus far, additions have been made in each year since.

NHS Prescriptions

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost of a (a) National Health Service prescription and (b) private prescription was in each year since 1979.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following table shows the National Health Service Prescription charges levied from patients since 1979 and the average net ingredient cost of a prescription item since 1979.

  Information on the average cost of private prescriptions is not held centrally. The level of fees that the pharmacist charges for dispensing private prescriptions is not regulated by any body or organisation; it is a private transaction between the pharmacist and their customer. Therefore, the costs incurred are set by the individual pharmacy or pharmacy chain.

  National Health Service Prescription charges and Average Net Ingredient Cost per Dispensed Prescription1

  

 Year ending
  31 March
Cost ofNHS Prescription£
Average Net2 IngredientCost (£)
 Year ending
  31 March
Cost ofNHS Prescription£
 Average Net2 Ingredient Cost (£)


 1979
 0.45
 2.11
 1993
 4.25
 6.76


 1980
 0.70
 2.53
 1994
 4.75
 7.09


 1981
 1.00
 2.91
 1995
 5.25
 7.55


 1982
 1.30
 3.22
 1996
 5.50
 7.98


 1983
 1.40
 3.55
 1997
 5.65
 8.42


 1984
 1.60
 3.75
 1998
 5.80
 8.91


 1985
 2.00
 3.94
 1999
 5.90
 9.26


 1986
 2.20
 4.22
 2000
 6.00
 10.11


 1987
 2.40
 4.49
 2001
 6.10
 10.13


 1988
 2.60
 4.60
 2002
 6.20
 10.60


 1989
 2.80
 5.05
 2003
 6.30
 11.12


 1990
 3.05
 5.39
 2004
 6.40
 11.62


 1991
 3.40
 5.79
 2005
 6.50
 11.50


 1992
 3.75
 6.21
 
 
 



  Notes:

  1. Data for 1978-79 to 1995-96 are taken from Table 7.4 of Scottish Health Statistics, published by ISD Scotland; data from 1996 on are from Scottish Health Statistics, published on the ISD website.

  2. Net ingredient cost is the gross cost of medicines minus any discount obtained by dispensing contractors from their suppliers.

  3. The figures exclude the dispensing fee paid to the dispensing contractor.

NHS Waiting Times

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time was between (a) a child and (b) an adult being referred for (i) speech and (ii) occupational therapy and receiving treatment in each of the last five years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not available centrally.

Non-Domestic Rates

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-16718 by Mr Tom McCabe on 31 May 2005, what the average non-domestic rate bill was of the businesses rated (a) £1 to £2,999, (b) £3,000 to £3,999, (c) £4,000 to £4,999, (d) £5,000 to £5,999, (e) £6,000 to £6,999 and (f) over £7,000 in April 2005 and whether it will provide a breakdown of the category of business that they represent.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is not held centrally.

Nurses

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new nurses, who had completed their training in Scotland, registered on the nursing and midwifery council register in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002, (d) 2003 and (e) 2004.

Mr Andy Kerr: The number of new nurses who have completed their training in Scotland, and the number of new registrants on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register from 2000 to 2004 are indicated in the table below.

  Information on the number of completions, and number of new registrants in 2004 is not available until September 2005.

  Table 1. Numbers Of Nursing Completions And New Registrants, 2000-04

  

 Year
 Number of completions
 Number of New Registrants


 
 
 


 2000
 1,481
 1,909


 2001
 1,642
 1,786


 2002
 1,652
 2,238


 2003
 1,940
 2,331



  Source: NHS Education for Scotland (Annual Statistical Supplement 03/04).

  NMC Statistical Supplement (Annual Statistical Supplement (Dec 04).

Nurses

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many registered and unregistered nurses there have been in the NHS Borders area and what the breakdown has been between the hours attributable to nurses employed directly by NHS Borders and the hours attributable to agency nurses in each year since 1999.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on nursing staff in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at: www.isdscotland.org/workforce .

  Section E gives details of nursing and midwifery staff employed in NHS Scotland. In particular, tables E1 and E2 show the whole time equivalent (WTE) and headcount number of registered and non registered nurses, broken down by NHS board area. Latest available figures are at 31 March 2005.

  Table E13 shows the average whole time equivalent (WTE) and actual hours worked for agency nursing staff, broken down by NHS board area, by financial year from 2000-2001 to 2004-2005. WTE adjusts headcount staff figures to take account of part-time staff.

  At March 2005, the total number of nurses and midwives employed by NHS Borders was at a record level of 1,446 headcount.

Regional Selective Assistance

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions have been placed on the £1.6 million grant to Amazon.co.uk to establish a fulfilment centre in Gourock.

Allan Wilson: Amazon.co.uk accepted an offer of £1.655 million in regional selective assistance (RSA) in May 2004 towards a project involving the establishment of a fulfilment centre at Gourock. This figure is the maximum that will be paid if Amazon meets the conditions that have been set on the grant. Payment of RSA will be made in instalments as job creation and capital expenditure targets are met.

  The targets are to create 300 new jobs by the end of December 2006 and to make planned capital expenditure of £800,000 relating to the project. The project remains subject to these conditions for a fixed period after grant instalments are paid. This period will be five years after the first payment, or 18 months after the final payment, whichever is the later.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will spend on indoor (a) bought and (b) hired plants in 2005-06.

Mr Tom McCabe: During the financial year 2005-06 the Scottish Executive will spend £17,174 on replacing and maintaining indoor plants. The Executive does not have hired plants on the Estate.

Scottish Executive Funding

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or any of its agencies contributes directly or indirectly to the Met Office’s budget.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive transferred the sum of £1.112 million to the Met Office for the provision of severe weather warnings for the emergency services in the 2004-05 autumn budget revision. A similar sum will automatically be transferred each year for this purpose.

Scottish Executive Procurement

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or any of its agencies purchases any services from the Met Office.

Mr Tom McCabe: Over the past three financial years the Scottish Executive have made the following payments to the Met Office:

  

 Year
 Payments


 2002-03
£1.309 million


 2003-04
£1.342 million


 2004-05
£0.017 million

Students

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students from (a) China and (b) India took courses in (i) science and (ii) engineering at higher education institutions in Scotland at (1) undergraduate and (2) postgraduate level in each year from 1994 to 2004.

Allan Wilson: The tables below give the numbers of students domiciled in China and India attending courses at Scottish higher education institutions in the academic years 1994-95 to 2003-04.

  (a) China

  Students Domiciled in China Attending Scottish Higher Education Institutions (excluding those studying outside the UK) with Main Subject of Study in Listed Subject Areas 1994-95 to 2003-04

  

 Year
 Subject area
 Postgraduate
 Undergraduate


 1994-95
 Biological Sciences
 10
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 35
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 75
 0


 1995-96
 Biological Sciences
 15
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 30
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 55
 0


 1996-97
 Biological Sciences
 20
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 25
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 60
 0


 1997-98
 Biological Sciences
 20
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 30
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 55
 0


 1998-99
 Biological Sciences
 20
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 30
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 80
 5


 1999-00
 Biological Sciences
 20
 5


 
 Physical Sciences
 30
 5


 
 Engineering and Technology
 80
 5


 2000-01
 Biological Sciences
 15
 15


 
 Physical Sciences
 25
 5


 
 Engineering and Technology
 85
 10


 2001-02
 Biological Sciences
 25
 20


 
 Physical Sciences
 20
 5


 
 Engineering and Technology
 100
 25


2002-03
Biological Sciences
45
25


 
Physical Sciences
20
10


 
Engineering and Technology
130
40


2003-04
Biological Sciences
55
40


 
Physical Sciences
40
15


 
Engineering and Technology
145
60



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency

  Note: All numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5.

  (b) India

  Students Domiciled in India Attending Scottish Higher Education Institutions (excluding those studying outside the UK) with Main Subject of Study in Listed Subject Areas 1994-95 to 2003-04

  

 Year
 Subject area
 Postgraduate
 Undergraduate


 1994-95
 Biological Sciences
 10
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 5
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 20
 0


 1995-96
 Biological Sciences
 5
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 5
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 25
 5


 1996-97
 Biological Sciences
 5
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 5
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 25
 5


 1997-98
 Biological Sciences
 5
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 5
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 25
 10


 1998-99
 Biological Sciences
 10
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 5
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 35
 25


 1999-00
 Biological Sciences
 5
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 5
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 60
 15


 2000-01
 Biological Sciences
 15
 0


 
 Physical Sciences
 10
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 60
 25


 2001-02
 Biological Sciences
 25
 5


 
 Physical Sciences
 20
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 100
 30


 2002-03
 Biological Sciences
 55
 5


 
 Physical Sciences
 20
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 180
 40


 2003-04
 Biological Sciences
 120
 5


 
 Physical Sciences
 30
 0


 
 Engineering and Technology
 235
 35



  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency

  Note: All numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest 5.

Tourism

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has given to VisitScotland in each year since it was created.

Patricia Ferguson: The resources that have been made available to VisitScotland in each year since its creation during 2000-01 are shown in the table below:

  

 Year
£(‘000)


 2000-01
 25,609


 2001-02*
 40,659


 2002-03
 33,189


 2003-04
 36,450


 2004-05
 41,850


 2005-06
 48,850



  Note: *Includes additional resources of £11.9 million made available to combat the effects of Foot and Mouth disease.

  The resources made available in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 include funds totalling £2 million, £3 million and £5 million respectively that are specifically ring-fenced for EventScotland.